I woke up feeling groggy to an unfamiliar sight, I was laying on a bed in a room of some sort until I heard a familiar voice.

You’re finally awake darling?

Belros was sitting on a chair, her hand at her face, staring at me.

Where are we now, how long was I out for?

She replied, we’re at a tavern and you were sleeping for about a day and a half.

You carried me here?

I sure did all princess style

That’s seriously embarrassing

Oh I’m just messing with you, I used magic to carry you here and paid for a room!

I don’t get you, why are you being so nice to me, why are you even helping me.

Because I like you, you amuse me Soda.

How do you even know my name, I never told you it, that’s freaking me out lady.

By the power of God’s blessing.

God’s blessing? So God still has sway in Hell?

No no no, not THAT God, the Demon God Lucifer’s blessing, it’s an enchantment put upon all demons who enter Hell…I can explain more but why don’t we go downstairs to eat something, you must be hungry aren’t you?

No thanks, I’m not that- grumble grumble -hungry….

Ohohoho your growling stomach begs the differ, she teased.

Sigh fine, I am a little hungry…that spar really wore me down

C’mon boy, I’ll show you downstairs.

I followed Belros and as we made our way downstairs I was surprised by the lively environment in front of me. A Tavern full of monsters are merry. Eating and drinking their hearts away, playing games and telling tales about their exploits about adventures they’ve had outside town or in different lands. Music playing in the background and others drinking themselves into a stupor.

Am I really in Hell…none of this is what I imagined.

And what did you imagine, do tell?

I don’t know…pits of fire, brimstone and ash! Wailing screams of agony and sorrow! Misery beyond belief, death and destruction?!

Would you like it to be that way?

N-no, this is fine actually. I could get used to this actually.

Well don’t because where we’re going you’ll have plenty of WAILING SCREAMS OF AGONY AND SORROW! She taunts making a scary face, ohohoho!

You’re enjoying this too much Belros…

Well of course I am, a human is here. I can’t wait to hear you scream.

Your jokes aren’t funny, are you sane?

Honey you’re in hell, you won’t find any monster sane here…civil but not sane.

We took our seats in the middle of the tavern and I can start hearing the hush whispers of the monsters talking about me. In regards to if their eyes are playing tricks on them that a human is really in the tavern with them. I’ve gotten used to the stares but I just got to wonder…

Belros, why is everyone constantly staring at me. Is it because I’m a human, how rare is it to see my kind down here…aren’t I a monster in some regards too? I had these eyes following me ever since I came here in this gothic looking ass town.

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They’re sizing you up with their appraisal ability, all monsters have it thanks to God’s Blessing. I did the same thing when I first met you. And when it comes to you being a monster, it’s not necessarily true. Humans are usually trapped in Limbo before finding their ways to any sort of town. By then they usually turned into monsters.

Limbo? Like Dante’s Inferno Limbo?

No no, Limbo is a city of humans, it’s where you should have woken up when arriving at Hell but apparently you’re here, so close to the Demon God Lucifer’s castle of all places. You’re in the presence of high level monsters who made it to the edge of Hell.

So I’m at the edge of Hell? That shit is too wild.

It is, which is why everyone is so interested in you, including yours truly.

It can’t be a coincidence…I was definitely summoned here. I heard a voice in my head that kept saying “come to me”. Even now it calls to me…

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together, you’re special. No doubt it must be the Demon God calling to you.

Yeah, that’s what I figured.

WOA WOA! A HUMAN! A little girl in a waitress outfit approaches me without warning. Out of reflex and perhaps really bad habit, I took my combat knife out and pointed it towards her face.

Eheheh..heh~ sorry I got excited there, we don’t see your kind too often if at all…um can you please put the blade…down now.

Sorry about that, it’s a bad habit of mine. I’m not used to seeing…monsters yet…you are a monster right?

Looking at the little girls it’s easy to mistake her for being a human too. Short with blonde hair and huge beautifully blue azure eyes. A picture perfect lolita, smiling from ear to ear. I’d believe her…if it wasn’t for her pointed ears, bat wings and heart shaped tail…

Who me? Noooo I couldn’t be a monster, I’m as human as they come. Anyway what would you two like to order?

I’ll take one of these and make it quick, we’re going on an adventure soon, Belros ordered.

OOOH an adventure, how exciting, and you, handsome?

I look at the menu but I can’t read a damn thing on this menu, all these signs look like gibberish! WHAT THE FUCK?!

I’ll just have what she’s having, yeah…heheh

Don’t worry too much about it sweetie, I wouldn’t expect a human to read the demon language but don’t worry, you will soon enough, I believe in you! Shegave me a thumbs up and skipped away.

What was that about, I whispered

You should be careful around demons like her. She's a succubus demon called an Alice. They lure people like you with their innocence and charm but they’re just as dangerous as any other demon around here. She drinks her tea, explaining nonchalantly.

An Alice you say, yeah she definitely looks the part of an innocent girl. Sigh

If it’s cute it’s definitely evil, keep that in mind.

Noted. Anyway you were talking about this “God’s Blessing” thing, what is that all about, stop keeping me in suspense already!

Well to put it bluntly, if I haven’t already stated, it’s a worldwide enchantment spell casted upon all demons who arrive in Hell except for humans. Only demons can see it, not lowly humans such as yourself darling. It works as a countermeasure to keep demons from needlessly killing each other and avoid bloodshed. Before that this place used to be a literal hell and life was a constant battle. It separates our soul into different parts we call the stat system. It separates our health, magic, and stamina as well as shows us how far we’ve come to grow as individuals.

That being what exactly?

Our attributes, skills, and titles we learn or pick up along the way. Every individual is different and is bound to have different attributes or skills learned as they stay in Hell. For example, that Alice you met was definitely using charm on you which is a skill but you were stupidly unaffected by it. Which means you must be resistant to charms or maybe you’re just dense.

The fuck you say-

Which is a GOOD thing in Hell anyways. You don’t want to be a slave to an Alice, trust me. That is just one example. Another being myself and you. When we fought I used multiple magic spells such as fire which is my strongest affinity in magic but you used an energy attack without knowing it. You have to wonder what was going through your head when you used such an attack didn’t you?

Hmmm…I just thought that if I swung my scythe hard enough it’d cut through air and reach you…as ludicrous as that sounds it is what I thought at the time. I aid, with a hint of embarrassment.

Humans normally can’t use magic attacks but Hell is different from the world Earth. Humans can’t know about God’s blessing because, well, they’re just too ignorant about the Gods and have no faith in their history nor their teachings. How else do you think Jesus walked on water?

Jesus is real?

Of course he’s real

Holy shit! so everything in the bible is true then?

What are you, a little kid?

I’m 19!

Sigh…no love, not everything in the bible is true it was written by humans after all. Anyway, Since humans can’t perceive God’s Blessing these extraordinary abilities are usually called talents or are earned through effort one puts into their self-growth. Why can one human run as theoretically fast as a cheetah while another runs just as fast through training. It’s the difference between effort and talent alone but in reality one may have an affinity for running while the other has earned it. Why is one human good at painting while the other struggles. It’s God’s Blessing at work, you just can’t see it.

Even now I struggle to comprehend this information, Belros

Don’t worry too much about it Soda, you’ll see it eventually. If you stay down here long enough you’ll eventually turn into a monster yourself then you’ll see your own Stats with God’s Blessing.

That’s not going to happen, I’m a man on a mission I have to get to the Lucifer’s castle soon or this ringing in my head won’t shut the fuck up. I don’t know why, it’s like I’m not entirely myself, it feels wrong

Here’s your fooood you twoooo~ The Alice waitress comes back merrily humming as she hands out the two plates full of tacos and nachos

You ordered Mexican food…hell has REAL food? I’m honestly shocked!

Yes, we were all humans too, once upon a time, why wouldn’t we bring our cultures down here as well does that not make sense to you? Would you prefer eyeball spaghetti or something more grotesque? She laughed.

Eh no, I’m good, this is fine. Thanks for the food!

Why are you staring at me like that?

Oh no, it’s nothing…you’re just eating with your mask on? How strange, won’t you take it off so I can see your face?

No

Fine fine, how’s the food by the way?

What are you- before I could finish my sentence I felt a fiery sensation well up in my mouth. It was as if a dragon just puked magma into my mouth. Just from the look on Belros shit eating grin, I knew…I knew…I was going to have a bad time…

AAAAAAAA my mouth is on fire!!!

OHOHOHOHO OHOHO!!!

Water, I need wateeeer! I grabbed Belros’ drink trying to purge this burning cessation blazing within my very soul

Oh no don’t drink that it’s not~ she cooed. Oh dear you drinked it…

Blargh I through up all my innards all over the floor and all the demons around me started to laugh heartily

What the fuck was in that drink?!

Blood

BLOOD? BLOOD! I start throwing up again.

Ohohoho

You crazy Bitch!

We are still monsters after all~ she sticked her tongue out teasingly

My gut wretched…I’m SO mad right now!

Well, enjoying the food~